Buckle



(NoModeL) A. B. WILHBLM.

Buckle.

No. 243,667. Patented June 28,1881.

.ua $03M N FErERs Pholwl-ithognpher. washmgmma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM B. WILHELM, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent N0. 243,667, dated June 28, 1881.

Application filed April 30, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM B. WILHELM, of Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles; and Ido hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in trace-buckles; and it consists, mainly, in a buckle composed of two rocking frames loosely inclosed in and secured together by a transverse strap, between which frames and strap the trace-leather is pinched; and, further, in combining with one of said frames a short tongue designed to pass only partially through the trace-leather and acting in connection with the binding-frames to hold the strap.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the device in perspective, showing the position of the trace in dottedlines. Fig. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the center of trace and frames. Fig.3 shows a modification of the transverse inclosing-strap.

The first to be described of what I have called the frames, constituting the buckle, and which take the place of the loop in the ordinary buckle, is marked A. It is formed as shown clearly in Fig. 1, consisting of side bars, a a, which act as levers, of transverse bars b c e, and a loop, f. Of these transverse bars, b lies upon the outside of the trace and carries a short tongue, 0, which takes the place of the ordinary tongue of a buckle; but it is made only long enough to go through one thickness of the leather of the trace, or but halfway through the whole, whatever the thickness. The trace passes through between the cross-bars 0 and c, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1; and the loop f, which is used only when the buckle is intended for double harness, is for the purpose of attaching the breeching. Itisomittedinbucklesforsingleharness, and e is in that case the end of the frame A.

It will be observed both in Figs. 1 and 2 that the side bars a a are curved. They are made a little wider apart than the width of the trace, and inclose a second frame, B, the side 'bars 11 d of which are also curved and connect by transverse bars g h. Of these two 9 is connected in the ordinary manner to the hame-tug D. The other cross-bar, h, rests on The two frames A B are connected to each other by means of a strap, L. The bar I of this strap L is rounded on its inner face, and is made flat upon the outer face, which bears against the surface of the trace. The strap is just wide enough between its two side bars to inclose the two frames and allow them to move freely. The frames and the strap are so adjusted to each other, as shown in Fig. 2, that when in position the trace will be curved over the side bar I of the strap L, and when draft is put upon the trace it will be pinched between the bar Z underneath and the cross-bars h and b on the outside, and the greater the strain putupon the trace the greater the pinching force which will be applied thereto. In this case the crooked side bars a. aof the frame first described, and the side bars 01 d of the inner frame last described, both act as levers, the force being applied to the outer-frame, A, by the trace, and to the frame B by the hametug. The same leverage forces the lug or tongue 0 into its hole in' the trace.

The connecting and tightening strap L shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed when the buckle is to be used on single harness. When it is to be used on double harness the form shown in Fig. 3 is to be substituted for that shown at L in Figs. 1 and 2. The loops 3 on the end of L in Fig. 3 are for the pad-belts and belly-bands. If preferred, loops 4 4, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used instead.

The tongue E is of ordinary construction, except that it may be shorter than usual, as the perforations are made only half-Way through, as shown at i. This saves a very considerable weakening of the trace, which occurs when the hole is out quite through the whole, especially as the trace begins to break first on the inside. The pinching upon the trace by the curved side bars having their leverage in the loop I takes up the principal part of the strain, and for the greater part relieves the stud or tongue 0, and the strain upon the hole in the trace.

Obviously, the parts may be made of any suitable kind of metal, and may be made plain, or ornamented in any suitable way.

In using the device it is not necessary to a short tongue, 0, in combination with the trace having a hole in only one thickness of 15 the leather, whereby the trace is held both by the tongue and the pinching of the frames, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

ADAM B. WILHELM. WVitnesses WILLIAM F. BEMBRocK, JAMES B. POLLOGK. 

